Looks A Poor Pl 2015

[The White Knight]

Speedway is what it is, a sport run by a few for the few. For me the biggest damage to the sport in this country has been the Grand Prix series. Owners and Promotors of most clubs I would dare say dont really give a toss about the fans, only start to worry when they stop coming. They make rules up then change them when it suits them. No wonder really the whole sport is considered a joke by many.

 

As a fan of speedway for over 40 years, I find it hard to say that it now holds very little interest for me or my family. I cant see me visiting my local track again. So thats about £80 a week not going into the owners pocket just from my family. I certainly dont consider that we now get value for our money. Get them in, take their money and get them out again as fast as we can attitude doesnt work for me anymore.

Certain Promoters try hard to please, I honestly believe that. At Newcastle, for example, last Season, Supporters were complaining about the Team and the Promoters attempted to change things - they listened. The fact that their Plan didn't work was not their fault - they were shafted by their own organization and daft Rules.

 

It is too easy to tar all Promoters with the same brush - but - as far as I can see most of them seem to fit in to your description Whiteliner.

[phillipsr]

Speedway in general isnt value for money. The PL in my opinion is the worst offender on that front. At least in the EL your watching some top riders.

[scaramanga]

Speedway in general isnt value for money. The PL in my opinion is the worst offender on that front. At least in the EL your watching some top riders.

i agree you get a few gp riders but as a package the elite is poor product when you look at the sweedish league for example that was aired on eurosport last year

[The White Knight]

Speedway in general isnt value for money. The PL in my opinion is the worst offender on that front. At least in the EL your watching some top riders.

That's true - the odd GP Riders - beating Double Uppers and occasionally fast track Reserves.

 

Big deal that.....

[Bagpuss]

But that's not the case, they are going head to head in most of their races. Heat leaders don't even race reserves.

[The White Knight]

But that's not the case, they are going head to head in most of their races. Heat leaders don't even race reserves.

What - never?

 

I must have misunderstood the Rules. What about a Reserve replacement?

 

Genuine enquiry.

[Bagpuss]

Reserve replacement yes but rarely. They even introduced instant R/R for injuries during meetings. The odd heat leader v reserve race is no different to what you get in the PL and the gap between them can be just as big if not bigger.

[The White Knight]

Reserve replacement yes but rarely. They even introduced instant R/R for injuries during meetings. The odd heat leader v reserve race is no different to what you get in the PL and the gap between them can be just as big if not bigger.

In my original Post I did state occasionally.

 

So in that sense I was right.

[Heedthebaw]

What a wonderfully eloquent reply....

Nothing but the truth !

[SCB]

Speedway in general isnt value for money. The PL in my opinion is the worst offender on that front. At least in the EL your watching some top riders.

When Newport opened up in 1997 it was £7 for adults,just used an inflation calculator online and thats £7 is now £10.60 - yet promoters are charging £16. Where the £5.50 gone? Or the nearly 50% extra? The sport charges too much, far too much (and it does that at EL and PL level). But it does make me laugh when anyone claims the EL is a con, a rip off, over charges and that the PL is some sort of great deal. EL prices are £1-2 more, I'd prefer to pay the extra pound or two and see a couple of decent riders and riders racing against others of their standard, not reserves vs heat leaders.

Edited April 6, 2015 by SCB

[Buttons]

Also there used to be a bigger difference between Adults & Concessions, but now £2 or so, Promoters obviously realised there were more OAP etc than adults coming through the gate so upped the price.

 

Speedway is a £10 sport

[Whiteliner]

Certain Promoters try hard to please, I honestly believe that. At Newcastle, for example, last Season, Supporters were complaining about the Team and the Promoters attempted to change things - they listened. The fact that their Plan didn't work was not their fault - they were shafted by their own organization and daft Rules.

 

It is too easy to tar all Promoters with the same brush - but - as far as I can see most of them seem to fit in to your description Whiteliner.

Yes, Ian, as I said in my original posting, MOST OWNERS/PROMOTORS, I do not tar all with the same brush.

[Cue Ball]

When Newport opened up in 1997 it was £7 for adults,just used an inflation calculator online and thats £7 is now £10.60 - yet promoters are charging £16. Where the £5.50 gone? Or the nearly 50% extra?.

If crowds what they were in 1997 then prices would probably be considerably lower than they are... Also didn't Newport go bust, so perhaps they weren't charging enough

[SCB]

If crowds what they were in 1997 then prices would probably be considerably lower than they are... Also didn't Newport go bust, so perhaps they weren't charging enough

Or maybe they were charging too much so people stopped going.

 

But for Newport read Sheffield, Peterborough, Berwick, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow. All charging about the same £7 in 1997 and all now charging about £16. Why has the cost of speedway shot off at a rate great that inflation?

[Haza]

When Newport opened up in 1997 it was £7 for adults,just used an inflation calculator online and thats £7 is now £10.60 - yet promoters are charging £16. Where the £5.50 gone? Or the nearly 50% extra? The sport charges too much, far too much (and it does that at EL and PL level). But it does make me laugh when anyone claims the EL is a con, a rip off, over charges and that the PL is some sort of great deal. EL prices are £1-2 more, I'd prefer to pay the extra pound or two and see a couple of decent riders and riders racing against others of their standard, not reserves vs heat leaders.

have to agree with all you say - but how about at EL level paying say £19-50 per meeting for a world class EL on the lines of team strengths of Sweden and Poland ? Now that would be something special .

[Weeyin]

Or maybe they were charging too much so people stopped going.

 

But for Newport read Sheffield, Peterborough, Berwick, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow. All charging about the same £7 in 1997 and all now charging about £16. Why has the cost of speedway shot off at a rate great that inflation?

Glasgow have reduced their admission this year to £15

[ruffdiamond]

Certain Promoters try hard to please, I honestly believe that. At Newcastle, for example, last Season, Supporters were complaining about the Team and the Promoters attempted to change things - they listened. The fact that their Plan didn't work was not their fault - they were shafted by their own organization and daft Rules.

 

It is too easy to tar all Promoters with the same brush - but - as far as I can see most of them seem to fit in to your description Whiteliner.

 

you can't keep everyone happy :-(,,, (sorry about using red) :-)

 

Also there used to be a bigger difference between Adults & Concessions, but now £2 or so, Promoters obviously realised there were more OAP etc than adults coming through the gate so upped the price.

 

Speedway is a £10 sport

 

its all about 'supply and demand',,, have ye seen what they charge for 'sheltered accomadation' ???,,, its bloody ridiculous :-(

Edited April 6, 2015 by ruffdiamond

[SCB]

Glasgow have reduced their admission this year to £15

But they were charging £7 in 1997. With inflation thats £10.60. They're still charging nearly a fiver too much. The sport is seriously over pricing itself.

 

Mind you, I say that but I question if dropping the price by 33% will increase the crowd by 50% as it needs, so they may be right to increase the price. But I do know seeing most winters the price going up another £1 gets bloody annoying - especially when at EL level we're told lots of clubs wanted to drop their prices last year but couldn't as it would have meant EL and PL fans paying the same!

[Shadders]

When Newport opened up in 1997 it was £7 for adults,just used an inflation calculator online and thats £7 is now £10.60 - yet promoters are charging £16. Where the £5.50 gone? Or the nearly 50% extra? The sport charges too much, far too much (and it does that at EL and PL level).

And yet most clubs are still losing money, so who's to blame? Greedy riders, over priced equipment, expensive engine tuning?

I genuinely don't know the answer

[Halifaxtiger]

But they were charging £7 in 1997. With inflation thats £10.60. They're still charging nearly a fiver too much. The sport is seriously over pricing itself.

 

Mind you, I say that but I question if dropping the price by 33% will increase the crowd by 50% as it needs, so they may be right to increase the price. But I do know seeing most winters the price going up another £1 gets bloody annoying - especially when at EL level we're told lots of clubs wanted to drop their prices last year but couldn't as it would have meant EL and PL fans paying the same!

 

Edinburgh is £17. When you pay for car parking (which you pretty much have to there) that's another £2, plus £2.50 for a programme. At £21.50, that's getting steep.

 

And yet most clubs are still losing money, so who's to blame? Greedy riders, over priced equipment, expensive engine tuning?

I genuinely don't know the answer

 

Neither do I and I suspect that there are a few others who don't either.

 

I don't think the PL will be any worse or better than it has been for the last few seasons. What I can say is that the gates I have seen at Sheffield, Edinburgh, Berwick, Glasgow and Scunthorpe had significantly increased on last season.

 

That might well be due at least in part to the resurgence of Glasgow and Sheffield and the Easter holiday, but at least there is an increase rather than them staying the same or decreasing.